Abstract

REVIEW ARTICLE ON AYURVEDIC APPROACH TO PANDU IN CHILDREN – IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

Dr. Payal V. Shende*, Dr. Devyani S. Thokal, Dr. Rachana D. Ramteke, Dr. Mohini S. Fagne and Dr. Rahul Mahale

.

Abstract

Todays era is dominated by disorder of lifestyle and Ayurveda is the oldest system of medicine. Panduroga is one of the major diseases described in Ayurveda by many acharyas like Charak, Sushruta, Vaghabhata, Harit, Madhav nidan and Kashyap with its own specific pathogenesis and treatment. In Panduroga, Panduta is the main distinctive feature and hence the disease Pandu is named after it. All the description related to pandu is available in different sanhita such as charak chikitsa 16, sushrut uttartantra 44, Vaghabhat nidan 13, vaghabhat chikitsa 16, harit trutiya sthan, kashyap sanhita, madhav nidan. Pandu is the disease of rasvaha strotas as stated by all acharyas except Sushrut who consider it as disease of raktawaha strotas. According to WHO anaemia affects globally 1.62 billion people which corresponds to 24.8% of population.47.4% is the highest prevalence found in preschool children and 25.4% in school age children. Pandu runs parallel with the causes of iron deficiency anemia mentioned by the system of modern medicine. Defective absorption of iron and inappropriate and deficient dietary intake are the causes of iron deficiency anaemia. Various ayurvedic formulations has been described in ayurvedic literature under the heading Pandu which mainly focuses on correcting metabolism rather than supplementation of iron. In the Ayurvedic literature Nidanparivarjana, Shodhana and Shamana line of treatment forms the complete treatment of Pandu. Among these procedures, the Shamana line of treatment that includes oral administration of medicine is of most importance as the administration is very easy and also effective compared to Shodhana in children.

Keywords: pandu, rasvaha stotas, raktawaha strotas, anaemia.